Benedict Cumberbatch to Play Richard III

Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast as Richard III in a production of the Shakespearean play for BBC Two. The project will be adapted by Ben Power, directed by Dominic Cooke and executive produced by ‘American Beauty’ director Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and Nicolas Brown for Neal Street Productions.

Cumberbatch said in a statement: “I can’t wait to work with Dominic Cooke again to bring this complex, funny and dangerous character to life for the BBC and Neal Street Production’s peerless series of Shakespeare’s History plays.”

The project is part of a series of plays titled “The Hollow Crown,” which previously included Richard II and Henry V.

During the casting announcement on Sunday, BBC Two also revealed that a two-part production of Henry VI is in the works with Cooke also set to direct.

Benedict Cumberbatch will be busy throughout the year. Aside from his ‘Sherlock’ gig, the actor has also landed the title character for the Lyndsey Turner-directed adaptation of “Hamlet” in London in August 2014.